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y^Br  ooklyn 
Law  School 

St.  Lawrence  University 


Br  ooklyn  Law  School 


St.  Lawrence  University 


Circular  of  Information 


Catalogue  on  Request 


Eagle  Building,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


PRESIDENT  ALMON  GUNNISON 


(general  Snformatton 


HIS  pictorial  prospectus  is  issued  that  one 
may  quickly  read  much.  Its  purpose  is  to 
acquaint  you,  in  a general  way,  with  the 
Brooklyn  Law  School,  which  opened  its 
doors  to  students  for  the  fir^l  time  on  September  27th, 
1901.  It  is  the  department  of  law  of  St.  Lawrence 
University. 

The  school  is  young  and  vigorous.  It  can  give  you 
all  that  any  other  school  can  give  except,  perhaps,  tradi- 
tion. Prestige  and  tradition  will  come  with  time.  But 
what  it  lacks  in  tradition  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by 
its  youthful  vigor.  The  school  is  now  in  its  fifth  year. 
Its  rapid  growth  has  been  surprising.  It  has  outgrown 
its  quarters  three  times  in  five  years  and  is  now  expand- 
ing in  a commodious  office  building.  Each  year  shows 
an  increased  attendance.  The  enrollment  since  the 
organization  of  the  school  is  herewith  submitted  : 

First  year,  1901-1902,  29  students. 

Second  year,  1902-1903,  1 12  students. 

Third  year,  1 903- 1 904,  1 8 1 students. 

Fourth  year,  1904-1905,  231  students. 

Fifth  year,  1905-1906,  274  students. 


3 


DEAN  RICHARDSON 


Its  growth  is  due  in  large  measure  to  the  loyalty  of 
the  students,  and  this  loyalty  is  not  founded  on  prestige 
nor  influence  coming  from  paS  success.  The  school 
has  accomplished  these  results  by  its  own  untiring  efforts. 
The  school’s  officers  and  faculty  entered  into  their  work 
with  a determination  to  succeed,  and  success  has  crowned 
their  efforts.  They  have  not  been  weighted  down  by 
long-established  and  antiquated  cuSloms.  The  law  is  a 
progressive  subjedt,  and  the  school  is  keeping  abreeSt 
with  the  times.  Each  great  social  era  has  its  own  laws, 
and,  hence,  the  law  is  not  an  expression  of  principles  laid 
down  in  any  one  age  for  all  time. 

THE  STUDY  OF  LAW 

THE  OLD  AND  THE  NEW  METHOD 

The  old  method  of  studying  law  was  for  the  student 
to  enter  the  office  of  some  practicing  lawyer  as  a clerk 
and  continue  there  for  the  required  period,  devoting  part 
of  his  time  to  reading,  and  part  to  performing  various 
minor  services,  such  as  copying  and  serving  papers,  going 
on  errands,  looking  up  authorities,  and  many  others.  The 
modern  method  of  legal  education  is  for  the  student  to 
attend  a law  school.  The  advantages  of  the  latter  method 
need  only  be  mentioned  to  be  appreciated.  Under  it  the 
student  receives  a systematic  training  in  the  principles  of 
law.  The  busy  lawyer  of  to-day  cannot  devote  much 
time  or  attention  to  supervising  the  education  of  his  clerks, 
nor  has  he  the  qualifications  of  one  who  has  made  a 


5 


DEAN  RICHARDSON’S  OFFICE 


special  study  of  a subject  with  a view  to  teaching  it. 
Moreover,  the  routine  of  the  office  affords  no  opportunity 
for  systematic  instruction.  The  practical  result  is  that  the 
office  student  is  left  to  browse  among  the  books  with  little, 
if  any,  effective  guidance.  In  the  law  school,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  student  is  under  constant  supervision.  He  is 
set  to  work  on  lines  shown,  by  long  experience,  to  be 
the  best.  The  obscure  points  are  made  clear  to  him. 
He  is  shown  the  relative  importance  of  the  various  topics. 
The  rivalry  with  his  associates  and  the  encouragement  of 
his  instructors  give  him  incentives  to  study  which  are 
entirely  lacking  in  an  office. 

PREPARATORY  EDUCATION 

A college  education  is,  of  course,  a distinct  advantage 
to  a lawyer,  but  it  is  not  essential.  One  can  be  a suc- 
cessful lawyer  without  it.  Indeed,  one  can,  if  he  will,  by 
reading  and  study  himself  acquire  what  he  might  learn  at 
college.  He  can  do  this  much  better  than  he  can  acquire 
his  legal  education  by  private  study.  It  is  one  of  the 
anomalies  of  the  old  system  that  it  took  particular  pains  to 
train  the  student  carefully  in  his  general  education,  but 
left  him  to  pick  up  his  technical  education  as  best  he 
might,  notwithstanding  that  in  the  latter  his  knowledge 
must  be  most  thorough  and  accurate. 

SYSTEMS  OF  LEGAL  INSTRUCTION 

There  are  three  methods  of  legal  instruction,  the  text 
book  system,  the  case  system,  and  a combination  of  the 


9 


FIRST  GRADUATING  CLASS,  1903 


SECOND  GRADUATING  CLASS,  1904 


THIRD  GRADUATING  CLASS.  1905 


two.  The  text  book  system,  known  sometimes  as  the 
Dwight  system,  is  purely  deductive.  The  student  is 
given  text  books  to  read,  from  which,  with  the  aid  of  his 
instructors,  he  gleans  the  principles  of  law,  which  are  then 
illustrated  by  cases  showing  their  application.  The  case 
system  is  a purely  inductive  method.  The  student  is 
given  selected  cases  to  read,  and  expected  therefrom  to 
reason  out  the  principles  which  apply  thereto.  This 
method  is  an  excellent  one  to  develop  the  reasoning  and 
analytical  faculties,  but  for  the  student  with  limited  time 
it  is  not  practicable,  as  it  takes  much  longer  to  go  over 
the  ground  than  do  other  systems.  Furthermore,  as  this 
method  is  especially  adapted  to  the  study  of  exact  sciences, 
and  as  the  law  is  very  far  from  being  that,  it  is  perhaps 
better  calculated  to  give  the  student  a conception  of  what 
the  law  ought  to  be  than  what  it  is.  The  combination 
method  requires  some  text  book  reading  and  also  some 
case  reading.  Under  it  the  student  takes  up  the  cases 
with  some  idea  of  the  principles  which  apply,  and  thus 
acquires  his  knowledge  of  such  principles  in  less  time,  but 
perhaps  as  effectively  as  under  the  case  system.  This  last 
method  is  that  used  in  the  Brooklyn  Law  School. 

THE  FACULTY 

The  professors  and  instructors  of  the  Law  School  are 
men  thoroughly  qualified  and  eminently  fitted  for  their 
special  work.  They  not  only  know  the  law,  but  are 
teachers  of  the  law.  One  may  have  a mountain  of  knowl- 


13 


SECRETARY’S  OFFICE 


PART  OF  LIBRARY 


POST  GRADUATE  CLASS.  1906 


edge,  yet  be  wholly  incapable  of  imparting  that  knowl- 
edge to  others.  The  Law  School  has  been  exceptionally 
fortunate  in  securing  not  only  lawyers,  but  teachers  of  the 
law.  They  are  courteous  and  approachable  at  all  times. 

THE  STUDENT 

The  student  is  made  to  work.  His  studies  are  neither 
optional  nor  elective.  The  teachers  look  after  the  interests 
of  each  individual  student.  This  personal  interest  is  one 
of  the  distinctive  features  of  the  school.  The  backward 
and  indifferent  are  encouraged  ; they  are  made  to  realize 
that  it  is  possible  for  them  to  do  what  others  have  accom- 
plished. They  often  become  leaders  of  their  class  and 
successful  competitors  for  honors.  The  bright  and  inter- 
ested student  is  not  neglected.  Such  students  are,  how- 
ever, even  under  adverse  circumstances,  bound  to  suc- 
ceed ; but  they  are  thoroughly  and  rigidly  quizzed.  These 
quizzes  are  a part  of  the  daily  lecture  work.  No  regular 
student  can  be  excused  from  these  tests. 

An  earnest  and  interested  student  needs  no  incentive 
to  study.  But  study  will,  in  itself,  create  an  interest. 

The  school  limits  the  minimum,  but  not  the  maximum 
amount  of  work  that  a student  may  do.  Hence  it  is  that 
the  students  of  the  Brooklyn  Law  School  are  imbued  with 
a spirit  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  their  legal  studies. 
The  law  school  is  the  student’s  home  for  law  study. 

However  great  the  student’s  interest  and  earnestness 
may  be,  he  will  find  others  with  enthusiasm  equally  great. 


17 


AFTERNOON  DIVISION,  SENIOR  CLASS,  1906 


EVENING  DIVISION,  SENIOR  CLASS,  1906 


THETA  PHI  SOCIETY, 


The  fraternal  and  good  fellowship  feeling  that  prevails  is 
pronounced.  Notwithstanding  the  spirited  rivalry  among 
the  students  for  honors  and  devotion  to  self-promotion, 
there  is  strongly  manifested  a common  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  one  another  and  a willingness  to  co-operate  and  to 
help  those  in  need  of  assistance. 

METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTION 

The  system  of  teaching  law  here  used  is,  as  stated 
above,  the  combination  of  the  text  book  and  case  method. 
This  requires  some  reading  of  text  books,  but  less  than 
the  straight  text  book  system,  and  also  the  reading  of 
selected  illustrative  cases.  The  student  thus  gains  not 
only  a knowledge  of  the  principles  of  law,  but  learns  how 
these  principles  are  applied  by  the  courts  to  concrete 
states  of  facts.  We  have  found  this  method  exceedingly 
satisfactory. 

LOCATION 

The  school  is  located  in  the  Eagle  Building,  corner 
Washington  and  Johnson  Streets,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 
The  facilities  and  equipment  of  the  school  are  all  that  can 
be  desired.  The  two  lecture  rooms  are  large  and  well 
ventilated.  The  library  and  offices  are  especially  adapted 
to  the  requirements  of  the  school. 

EXPENSES 

Tuition  is  $100  per  year,  payable  in  quarterly  install- 


21 


AFTERNOON  DIVISION,  JUNIOR  CLASS,  1906 


ments  on  October  1st,  December  1st,  February  1st  and 
April  1st 

Cost  of  books  for  Junior  year  about  $35  ; Senior 
year,  $25.  This  represents  the  minimum  cost. 

There  are  no  other  charges. 

LIBRARY 

A most  excellent  library  is  provided  for  the  use  of 
students.  This  is  open  from  9 a.  m.  until  1 1 p.  m.,  six 
days  in  the  week.  Students  are  allowed  the  utmost 
liberty  in  the  use  of  the  books,  but  here  silence  reigns 
supreme. 

FRATERNAL  SOCIETIES 

The  activities  of  the  law  clubs  of  the  school,  the 
Evarts  Law  Club  and  the  Theta  Phi  Society,  bring  the 
students  together  in  their  private  meeting  rooms  for  social 
intercourse,  debates  and  lectures  on  special  subjects  by 
eminent  judges  and  lawyers.  Both  societies  have  good 
working  libraries.  Much  care  has  been  exercised  in 
selecting  the  most  useful  books. 

LENGTH  OF  COURSE 

The  regular  course  leading  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Laws  (LL.B.)  is  two  years.  This  course  thoroughly 
prepares  the  student  in  the  fundamental  principles  of  law 
and  procedure.  Our  students  have  no  difficulty  in  pass- 


23 


EVENING  DIVISION.  JUNIOR  CLASS,  1906 


ing  the  State  Bar  Examination.  They  have  made  an 
honorable  record. 

We  also  maintain  a post  graduate  or  third-year  course 
leading  to  the  degree  of  Master  of  Laws  (LL.M.) 

RECITATION  HOURS 

JUNIOR  CLASS. — Fcrencon  Division,  11  a.  m.  to  12:30  p.  m. 

Afternoon  Division,  4.15  to  5.45  p.  m. 
Evening  Division,  8 to  9:30  p.  m. 

SENIOR  CLASS. — Afternoon  Division,  4.15  to  5.45  p.  m. 

Evening  Division,  8 to  9.30  p.  m. 

THIRD- YEAR  CLASS.— 5 to  6.30  p.  m. 

REQUIREMENTS  FOR  STATE  BAR  EXAMINATION 

College  graduates  may  take  the  bar  examination  after 
two  years’  study  of  law.  All  others  must  show  three 
years. 

All  who  are  not  college  graduates  are  required  to 
obtain  the  Law  Student  Certificate.  The  prescribed 
subjects  for  this  certificate,  as  laid  down  by  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  are 

English  Composition  English  History  Economics 

Adv.  English  Algebra  U.  S.  History 

Arithmetic  Geometry  Civics 

1st  year  Latin 

REQUIREMENTS  FOR  DEGREE 

The  minimum  requirement  of  candidates  for  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  is  forty-eight  Regents’  counts. 


25 


EVARTS  LAW  CLUB,  1906 


MOOT  COURTS  AND  MOCK  TRIALS 

The  moot  courts  and  mock  trials  are  di^incTive 
features  of  the  school.  They  are  intended  to  familiarize 
the  ^udent,  in  so  far  as  is  possible  in  the  training  of  a law 
school,  with  the  adual  workings  of  our  judicial  tribunals. 
The  senior  indents  are  required  to  participate  in  these 
courts  of  procedure. 

SCHOOL  YEAR  BEGINS 

The  school  year  for  1906-19Q7  begins  Monday, 
October  1,  1905.  Students  should  be  enrolled  on  or 
before  the  opening  day. 


OFFICE 

The  law  school’s  office  is  open  daily  during  the 
entire  year,  except  Sundays  and  legal  holidays. 

DO  YOU  UNDERSTAND? 

There  is  much  misunderstanding  as  to  the  preliminary 
requirements  for  the  study  of  law.  Do  you  understand 
them?  If  not,  call  at  the  office  and  we  shall  be  pleased 
to  take  up  the  matter  with  you.  Each  case  will  be  given 
special  consideration.  It  may  be  that  we  can  assist  you. 


ARE  YOU  INTERESTED? 

If  you  are  interested  in  the  study  of  law  write  us  for 
a catalogue,  which  contains  more  detailed  information  than 


27 


JUNIOR  LECTURE  ROOM 


is  set  forth  in  this  circular,  or,  if  convenient,  call  and  see 
us,  as  a personal  interview  is  generally  more  satisfactory. 

Address 

WILLIAM  P.  RICHARDSON,  Dean 

EAGLE  BUILDING 

BROOKLYN.  NEW  YORK 


HOME  OF  BROOKLYN  LAW  SCHOOL 


EAGLE  PRESS,  BROOKLYN-NEW  YORK 


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